Brighton - National Student Pride

This year shall see National Student Pride Return to Brighton for a second innings. Look out for the official Gay Pride UK photographer.... With all photo's and a comprehensive review of the event comming post haste!

Friday 5th March
8-11pm: registration: r-bar
10pm-3am: pre pride party revenge

Saturday 6th March
12-6pm: main daytime event, Oceana

6-10pm: brighton showcase around Brighton’s best gay bars

10pm-4am: student pride the club night, coalition

4am-early: the official after party: revenge

 

Some Interesting Information about this Years National Student Pride.........

Gordon Brown and David Cameron support LGBT students

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has sent a personal message of support to everyone attending this weekend’s National Student Pride in Brighton. In a written letter he hopes everyone has “a fantastic weekend” before going on to confirm his support of gay students. Confirming his – and the Labour Party’s - belief in equality and LGBT rights he writes, “we’ve done a lot – but we can never be complacent and must always be vigilant to see that progress isn’t reversed.”


He will be joined in support by the Conservative leader David Cameron who is also sending a video message that will be played at the official opening by the Mayor of Brighton & Hove at Oceana on Saturday March 6th.

This year’s event is not just about politics though.

With the theme ‘Love Music Hate Homophobia’ three of the biggest music acts tipped for success in 2010 are also appearing to perform live at the Saturday evening event at Brighton’s Coalition nightclub, including Girls Can’t Catch, hailed as the new Girls Aloud, fresh from supporting the Jonas Brothers on their stadium tours, Chew Lips and Swedish supremo Erik Hassle, whose single ‘Hurtful’ is hardly ever off Radio 1.

Last year, Brighton hosted the biggest gay student event the UK had ever seen. Spread over two days, Student Pride 2009 set a new standard for LGBT student partying, spreading a message of inclusivity and acceptance.

More than 1,000 people from colleges and universities across the country travelled to be a part of a massive party that included a ‘question time’ style political debate, live bands, a pub crawl, and a club night featuring the likes of drag superstar Jodie Harsh and the aforementioned pop superman Frankmusik. Other guests included Chris Bryant MP and Aled Haydn Jones (Radio 1).

Following on from the success of the 2009 event, every aspect of Student Pride has gained momentum and this year’s event, on 6th March 2010, is going to be bigger than ever. Just some of the people confirmed for the daytime event at Oceana nightclub are Robbie Jarvis, (Harry Potter star), Caroline Lucas (Leader Green Party), Big Brother’s Gerry, QBoy and Classic Fm presenter Jamie Crick for the Celeb Chat Panel.  There will also be a Political Question Time debate chaired by Tris Reid-Smith (Editor GT) with Nick Herbert MP (Tory), Juliet Williams (Lib Dem) and Peter Tatchell.  Not to mention a whole host of comedians and drag queens, CK models, stilt walkers and angle grinders!

“We’re thrilled about the success of Student Pride,” said Chair Tom Guy. “What started as a small event five years ago in response to a need for a credible, LGBT Pride event has snowballed into one of the most important and cherished gay events in the calendar. We want to thank everyone for their support in making Student Pride what it is today.”

This year, Student Pride boasts a new patron: Dan Gillespie-Sells, lead singer of UK-based band The Feeling. “Diversity is very important to me and after sitting on the Question Time Panel and hosting the club night at Student Pride 2009 I am delighted to put my name to the organisation,” said Gillespie-Sells. “It is vital that activism such as National Student Pride continues to ensure that equality continues to grow through our communities.”

To coincide with International Women’s Day the Women’s Tent from Brighton Pride are programming the Women’s room in association with DIVA at the daytime event, crammed with live music & performance.

Last year not only has Student Pride been moved to Brighton, but it has also been neatly timed to coincide with Brighton and Hove Winter Pride. Described by many in the LGBTQ community across the country as "The biggest and best Pride in the UK" and the "Gay Capital of the South", this years Student Pride seems set to be a diverse and interesting event.

With NUS (National Union of Students) being a large national organisation it seems that combining the two was a natural progression for the younger of the two Prides. Combining the scale of the Brighton Pride with the sheer volume of the LGBTQ student populace (with the NUS representing 97% of all students: 5.2 million and over 350,000 LGBTQ students), it seems set to be a rather large party this year.

This will be the fourth National Student Pride (although it was officially formed in 2007), with the first being held with the Oxford Brookes University Students' Union LGBT Society in 2006. The second saw its name officiated and was hosted by the Manchester Universities (with sponsorship from PricewaterhouseCoopers).